Touchless optically controlled dispenser

ABSTRACT

An automatically controlled apparatus whose operation is controlled at least in part by the input of a signal that an object is sensed in a selected positioned relative the apparatus, the apparatus having an emitter to emit electromagnetic radiation and a sensor to sense electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter which is reflected off an object suitably positioned relative the apparatus, the improvement comprising a carriage member mounted to the apparatus for relative pivoting about a pivot axis, the emitter and sensor carried by carriage member, the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation to emanate outwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinal emission axis, the sensor being generally directional and sensing radiation which emanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axis terminating in the sensor, the emission axis and the sensing axis generally disposed in a common plane which includes the horizontal axis.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/983,065 filed Nov. 8, 2007.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an optically controlled dispensing mechanismand, more particularly, to a dispenser whose operation is controlled byoptical sensors which can be moved to assume different sensingpositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Touchless dispensers are known in which a dispenser operates by sensingthe presence of a user's hand below a discharge outlet. As one suchtouchless system, it is known to provide an emitter which emitselectromagnetic radiation and a sensor adapted to sense electromagneticradiation emitted by the sensor which has been reflected off the hand ofa user disposed below the discharge outlet. Dispensing occurs when lightreflected from the hand of a user under the discharge outlet is receivedby the sensor. In the absence of a hand disposed under the dischargeoutlet dispensing is not desired to occur.

Typical known soap dispensers have their hand sensing systems includingthe sensor and emitter disposed to be fixed relative to the dispenser todispense when the hand is located at a desired position underneath thedispenser.

The present inventors have appreciated that disadvantages arise whensensors are placed, for example, above reflective tabletops or sinks inthat reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the sensor off thecountertop or sink can reach the sensor causing false activations. Thepresent inventors have appreciated that with many soap dispensers inwhich the hand sensing systems direct the electromagnetic radiationvirtually vertically downwardly, it can be difficult to locate adispenser at a sufficient height above a countertop or sink to avoidfalse activations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To at least partially overcome these disadvantages and difficulties ofthe previously known devices, the present invention provides a touchlessdispenser in which a hand sensing system, preferably including a sensorand an emitter to receive radiation from the emitter reflected off ahand of a user, is adjustable to permit the sensor and emitter to bedisposed at different orientations relative to the dispenser.

An object of the present invention is to provide a touchless dispenserwhich permits easy adjustment of the direction that the sensor andemitter of a hand sensing system are directed relative to the remainderof the dispenser.

In one aspect, the present invention provides an automaticallycontrolled apparatus whose operation is controlled at least in part bythe input of a signal that an object is sensed in a selected positionedrelative the apparatus, the apparatus having an emitter to emitelectromagnetic radiation and a sensor to sense electromagneticradiation emitted by the emitter which is reflected off an objectsuitably positioned relative the apparatus, the improvement comprising acarriage member mounted to the apparatus for relative pivoting about apivot axis,

the emitter and sensor carried by carriage member,

the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation to emanateoutwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinal emission axis,

the sensor being generally directional and sensing radiation whichemanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axis terminating in thesensor,

the emission axis and the sensing axis generally disposed in a commonplane which includes the horizontal axis. Preferably, the apparatus isan automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing material onto the handof a user when positioned under a dispensing outlet for the material tobe dispensed.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an automaticdispensing apparatus for dispensing material onto a hand of a user whenthe hand is suitable positioned under a dispensing outlet for thematerial to be dispensed, the improvement comprising:

the dispensing apparatus having a backplate for mounting to a verticalwall,

the dispensing apparatus protruding forwardly from the backplate,

the dispensing outlet spaced in a forward direction from the backplate,

the dispensing outlet dispensing material vertically downwardly from thedispensing outlet along a dispensing axis which is fixed relative thebackplate,

the dispensing apparatus having an emitter to emit electromagneticradiation and a sensor to sense electromagnetic radiation emitted by theemitter which is reflected off a user hand suitably positioned under theoutlet,

a carriage member mounted to the dispensing apparatus fixed againstmovement relative the dispensing apparatus other than for relativepivoting about a pivot axis which is horizontal and extends normal tothe forward direction side to side of the dispensing apparatus,

the emitter and sensor carried by carriage member,

the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation to emanateoutwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinal emission axis,

the sensor being generally directional and sensing radiation whichemanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axis terminating in thesensor,

the emission axis and the sensing axis generally disposed in a commonplane which includes the pivot axis,

the carriage member mounted to the dispensing apparatus for pivotingabout the pivot axis between a plurality of different positions relativethe backplate,

wherein pivoting the carriage member between different of said positionsplaces the common plane at different angular orientations relative tothe dispensing axis,

preferably, the apparatus is in combination with a countertop having anupwardly directed countertop surface reflective of the electromagneticradiation emitted by the emitter and the dispensing apparatus issecurely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above the countertopwith the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardly directedsurface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to bepositioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directedcountertop surface.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operatinga dispenser of the above combination comprising:

pivoting the carriage member about the pivot axis to one of theplurality of different positions relative the backplate selected suchthat electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter reflects off theupwardly directed surface of the countertop is not directed to thesensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be comeapparent from the following description taken together with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a dispenser assembly in accordance with afirst preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial exploded view of the dispenser assembly shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing assembly of the reservoir assemblyand backplate assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic pictorial side view showing the relativepositioning of a user's hand relative the reservoir assembly and anactivation unit of the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the reservoir assembly shown inFIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view showing the assembled bottle, valve member,piston chamber forming member and piston shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial top rear view of the collar shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the dispenserassembly 10 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an exploded pictorial front view of the backplate assemblyshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a rear pictorial view of the activation unit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic exploded pictorial front view of the activationunit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a schematic exploded pictorial bottom view of selectedcomponents of the activation unit shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an exploded pictorial rear view of the top and bottomelements of the carriage member shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic pictorial assembled view of the circuit board andcarriage member shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of FIG. 4 also showing a wall to whichthe dispenser is mounted and a countertop below the dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a dispenser assembly 10 inaccordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.The dispenser assembly 10, as best seen in FIG. 2, includes a removablereservoir assembly 12 adapted to be secured to a housing formed by acombination of a backplate assembly 14, a presser member 15 and a shroud16. As seen in FIG. 9, the backplate assembly 14 includes a reservoirsupport bridge 200, a backplate front housing 202, a backplate rearhousing plate 204, a battery pack 206 and an activation unit 48. Thebattery pack 206 and the activation unit 48 are received inside anenclosed compartment formed between the assembled backplate fronthousing 202 and backplate rear housing plate 204. An electrical wire 208electrically connects batteries in the battery pack 206 withelectronic/electric components in the activation unit 48.

Referring to FIG. 2, the reservoir support bridge 200 is supported on agenerally forwardly directed face plate 17 of the backplate fronthousing 202 from which a horizontally disposed support plate 18 of thesupport bridge 200 extends forwardly supported by two side plates 19.The presser member 15 is pivotally mounted to the support bridge 200between the two side plates 19 with stub axles 20 received in journalingbores 21 in each of the side plates 19. The housing is completed by theshroud 16 being coupled to the backplate assembly 14 to substantiallyenclose the support bridge 200 and the presser member 15. The reservoirassembly 12 is adapted to removably couple to the assembled housing witha piston 32 of a pump assembly 25 of the reservoir assembly 12 becomingcoupled to the presser member 15.

Activation Unit

The backplate assembly 14 includes and carries the activation unit 48best seen in FIGS. 4, 9 to 12 and 15. The activation unit 48 includes asschematically shown in FIG. 11, an internal drive assembly including anelectric motor 49 which rotates via a series of gears 50, a drive wheel51 carrying an eccentrically mounted axially extending externallymounted cam post 52. The cam post 52 couples to an inner end of thepresser member 15 such that in rotation of the drive wheel 51 in onefull revolution, the presser member 15 is pivoted about its stub axles20 downwardly and then upwardly, returning to the same position. Thepresser member 15 is coupled to piston 32 of the pump assembly 25 of thereservoir assembly 12.

In one cycle of operation, the motor 49 is operated so as to rotate thedrive wheel 51 360 degrees and thus move the presser member 15 and hencethe piston 32 in a single stroke inwardly and outwardly to dispense anallotment of fluid from the bottle 22 of the reservoir assembly out adischarge outlet 34 of the piston 32. The motor 49 is an electric motorand its operation may be controlled by a control mechanism receivingvarious inputs.

The activation unit 48 shown is adapted provide touchless operation ofthe dispenser in a manner in which, as seen in FIG. 4, the presence of auser's hand 210 underneath the discharge outlet 34 is sensed by a handsensing system. The hand sensing system includes an electromagneticradiation emitter 53 located at the bottom front of the activator unit48 to direct radiation downwardly and forwardly towards the position theuser's hand 210 is to be placed and an electromagnetic radiation sensor54 also located at the bottom front of the activator unit 48 to senseradiation reflected off the user's hand 210. The hand sensing system, onsuitable receipt of reflected radiation from the hand, provides asuitable signal to the control mechanism indicating the presence of thehand, for example, satisfying at least one condition for operation ofthe motor.

The activation unit 48 is schematically shown in a pictorial explodedview in FIG. 11 as having a lid 212 which mates with a base 214 toprovide a substantially enclosed internal compartment therebetween formounting of a circuit board 216 and the internal drive assembly 218 aswell as a carriage member 220. The motor 49 is adapted to be mounted tothe circuit board 216 electrically coupled thereto. The various gears 50are journalled at each of their ends to the lid 212 and the base 214with suitable openings provided through the circuit board andpermitting, for example, coupling of one of the gears 50 through the lid212 to carry and rotate the drive wheel 51. The circuit board 216carries the emitter 53 and sensor 54 of the hand sensing systemelectrically coupled thereto by flexible wiring 223 and 224. Thecarriage member 220 carries two generally cylindrical sockets 225 and226 to securely receive, respectively, the emitter 53 and the sensor 54secured therein coaxially within one of the sockets 225 and 226 of thecarriage member 220.

As best seen in FIG. 12, the assembled carriage member 220 has a pair ofstub axles 228, one at each end, coaxially disposed and providingcylindrical outwardly directed journaling surfaces. The lid 212 has sidewalls 230 which carry inwardly directed sockets 232 within which thestub axles 228 of the carriage member are to be received such that thecarriage member becomes journalled to the lid 212 for pivoting about ageneral axis indicated as 234. The stub axles 228 are held in thesockets 232 against removal by portions of a front wall 236 of the base214 closing the open ends of the sockets 232 when the lid 212 and base214 are secured together.

By reason of the stub axles 228 being received in the sockets 232, thecarriage member 220 is mounted to the dispensing assembly 10 fixedagainst movement relative the dispensing assembly 10 other than forrelative pivoting about the axis 441.

The carriage member 220 has a support bar 238 extending parallel to thestub axles 228 and coupling the sockets 225 and 226 fixedly together. Aremovable handle member 240 is shown coupled to the carriage member 220extending forwardly from the support bar 238 centered between the twosockets and extending radially relative to an axis 441 through the stubaxles 228. A pair of catch arms 242 extend radially from the support bar238 spaced from each other on either side of the handle member 240,however, at a different angle relative to the axis 441 of the stub axles228 than the handle member 240. Each of the catch arms 242 extends froman inner end where it is coupled to the support bar 238 to a distal end244. Each catch arm 242 carries an inwardly extending semi-sphericalboss 245 proximate its end 244. The front wall 236 of the base 214carries a locating bridge 246 with a pair of side surfaces 248 each ofwhich has an array of semi-circular recesses 250 disposed at differentlocations in an arc about the pivot axis 234 when the lid 212 is coupledto the base 214. In an assembled actuation unit 48 as shown in FIG. 10,with the carriage member 220 journalled in the sockets 232 for pivotingabout the pivot axis 234, the catch arms 242 are disposed outwardly ofeach of the side surfaces 248 of the locating bridge 246 with the bosses245 adapted to be received in any one of the recesses 250 so as tolocate the carriage member 220 at one of a number of differentrotational positions about the axis 234. In FIGS. 10 and 15, the arrayof recesses 250 is shown to include three recesses and the carriagemember 220 is shown as being located in an intermediate of the recesses250.

As seen in FIG. 1, the removable handle 240 when coupled to the carriagemember 22 extends forwardly and is adapted to manually be grasped by aninstaller's hand and forcibly urged to move the bosses 245 out of onepair of the recesses 250 into another pair.

The emitter 53 comprises a lamp which is generally configured so as tobe generally directional, that is, to direct electromagnetic radiationto emanate outwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinalemitter axis 253 and, similarly, the sensor is generally directional soas to sense radiation which emanates generally along a longitudinalsensor axis 254 terminating in the sensor as seen in FIG. 14. Each ofthe sockets 255 and 256 effectively act as a shroud which assists insubstantially preventing any transmission of electromagnetic radiationtherethrough and effectively serves to assist in directionalizing theemitter 53 and the sensor 54 so as to restrict emissions or reception ofeither to radiation passing through the outer ends of the sockets 225and 226. The emitter axis 253 and the sensor axis 254 are disposed in acommon plane which includes the pivot axis 234 about which the carriagemember 220 is journalled to the activation unit 48. Similarly, thehandle 240 is shown as extending substantially in the same plane. Theemitter axis 253 and sensor axis 254 are angled relative to each otherso as to converge in the plane including the pivot axis 234 a convergentpoint at a fixed distance from the pivot axis 234. With these emitteraxis 253 and sensor axis 254 each disposed at the same relative angle tothe pivot axis 234, the convergent point is located centered between thesockets 225 and 226 as preferred for symmetrical location andarrangement on the dispenser although this is not necessary.

Referring to FIG. 15, there is illustrated by an arrow 262 in side view,the common plane containing each of the emitter axis 253 and the sensoraxis 254 when the catch arms 242 are secured with their bosses in theintermediate recess 250. Arrows 261 and 263 show the position of thiscommon plane if the carriage member 220 is rotated to have the catcharms 242 engaged in the lowermost and uppermost recesses 250,respectively.

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates components of the dispenser assemblyas mounted on a vertical wall 302 above a countertop 300 located belowthe dispenser. The countertop 300 carries an upper surface 301 which isreflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter 53.

Reference is made to FIG. 13 which shows the carriage member 220 asbeing formed from a top element 270 and a bottom element 271 which areadapted to snap-fit together as with catches 272 on the top element 270to pass through and snap-fit into openings 273 in the bottom element271. The top element 270 carries half of the stub axle 222 while thebottom 271 carries the other half. Similarly, the top element 270carries a top half of the socket 225 and the top half of the socket 226and the bottom element 271 carries a bottom half of the socket 225 and abottom half of the socket 226. On snap-fitting the top 270 to the bottom271, the emitter 53 is received coaxially within the socket 225 againstremoval and the sensor 54 is received coaxially within the socket 226against removal.

By positioning the carriage member 220 to assume any one of the upper,intermediate, or lower positions indicated by the arrows 261, 262 and263 in FIG. 15, the ability of hand sensing system to avoid undesiredreflection off a permanent object such as the countertop 300 shown inFIG. 15 located underneath the discharge outlet 34 will vary. As well,there may be a preferred location and distance below the dispensingoutlet 34 for a hand to be placed and sensed, for example, as shown inFIG. 15 as with the carriage member in the intermediate positionrepresented by arrow 262. However, in certain environments, for example,due to the presence of the countertop 300 below the dispenser whichrestricts the ability of a hand to be located in positions above thecountertop 300, may render it advantageous for the carriage member to bemoved to assume, for example, a position corresponding to thatrepresented by the arrow 261 which will more readily sense a hand at ahigher position. Similarly, in certain environments, it may be difficultto mount the dispenser other than at relatively high heights on the wall302 shown in FIG. 15 in which case a person using the dispenser may wellbe inclined to place their hand at a position farther below thedischarge nozzle 34. In this case, placing the carriage member 220 intoa position corresponding to that indicated by arrow 263 would facilitatea hand being sensed at a lower position underneath the discharge outlet.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is generally preferred if the carriage member220 is capable of being disposed such that the sensors 53 and 54 pointvirtually vertically downward or, preferably, no more than about tendegrees from the vertical. This is believed preferred to allow goodsensing to ensure there is no dispensing before the hand is underneaththe discharge outlet 34. However, insofar as there may be provided, forexample, some surface such as the reflective countertop surface 301 ofthe countertop 300 below the dispenser as seen in FIG. 15, then thedifficulty arises that radiation from the emitter can bounce off thesurface 301 being reflected to the emitter and, thus, provide an falseactivation when there is no hand of a user under the discharge outlet34. By adjusting the angle of the carriage member 220 to be increased,for example, to different angles such as 15 degrees or 20 degrees, or 25degrees or 30 degrees or 35 degrees to the vertical or any angle inranges therebetween, the difficulty with reflection as from a flatcountertop surface 301 can be reduced and typically eliminated. Thepresent invention provides a convenient arrangement in which when adispenser is installed on the wall, if there are problems with falsereadings as due to reflection, then the relative angle of the sensorsaltered to a vertical can be suitably directed.

It is believed that preferred angles for directing the sensors is in therange of 5 degrees to about 35 degrees, more preferably, in the range ofabout 10 degrees to about 30 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, thecarriage member 220 is intended to be able to be located at angles of 10degrees, 20 degrees and 30 degrees from the vertical. It is appreciatedthat a plurality of recesses may accommodate a plurality of differentangles as may be desired.

It is not necessary that the point of coincidence be disposed at thehand or necessarily above or below the hand. For proper operation of thehand sensing device, it is merely necessary that radiation from thesensor 53 is adequately reflected from the hand so as to be received bythe emitter 54. The pivotable carriage member 220 provides a simplemechanism for easy adjusting of the hand sensing system to optimallysense hands at different positions and locations relative to thedispenser, and/or to avoid problems with reflected radiation frompermanent elements of the environment about the dispenser.

In the preferred embodiment as best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the handlemember 240 a separate removable element from the carriage member 220 andnot integrally formed as part of the carriage member 220. In thisregard, the handle member 240 has an elongate portion 300 from which anelongate plug like key member 302 extends longitudinally at one end. Thekey member 302 has a rectangular cross sectional shape shaped and sizedto fit inside a complementary rectangular key hole 304 in the carriagemember 220 seen in FIG. 14. With the key member 302 engaged in thekeyhole 304, the handle member 240 extends about a notional longitudinal276 shown in FIG. 14 lying centered between the axis 253 and 254 all inthe common plane. For ease of explanation of the invention the removablehandle member 240 is shown coupled to the carriage member in each ofFIGS. 1 to 4, 8 to 12 and 15 although in use in dispensing the handlemember 240 should preferably be removed. The handle member 24 is notnecessary and the handle member 240 could be eliminated and some otherpositioning mechanism may be provided for manual movement of thecarriage member 220 or permitting access to the carriage member 220 as,for example, by use of a tool such as a screwdriver or the end of acylindrical pencil. For example, with the handle member 240 could beremoved and a flat head screwdriver could be inserted into the keyhole304 in the support bar 238 as seen in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, the backplate front housing 202 hasthree openings 281, 282 and 283 located in its lower wall 284complementary to the locations of the sockets 225, handle 220 and socket226, respectively. The openings 281 and 283 are disposed below thesockets 225 and 226 and are of a size to permit radiation from theemitter 53 to pass outwardly and radiation for the sensor 54 to passinwardly in all desired rotational positions of the carriage member 220.Similarly, the opening 282 provides an opening through which the handlemember 240 may extend for manual engagement and manipulation and permitsthe handle member 240 to assume any corresponding desired rotationalpositions of the carriage member 220. Insofar as the handle member 240may be eliminated, then the central opening 282 may provide an accesspoint for a tool to engage the carriage member 220.

The face plate 17 of the backplate housing 202 has an opening 285through which the drive wheel 51 may extend for engagement with thegears 50 within the activation unit 48.

The face plate 17 also includes two openings 286 and 287 to receive twokey shrouds 57 and 58 carried on the activation unit lid 212 and whichare to receive a key emitter 55 and key sensor 56 of an optional keysystem as discussed hereafter.

In the preferred embodiment, engagement between the bosses on the catcharms and the recesses in the bridging member provide for discretepre-set adjustment of the carriage member 220 to have the sensors at aplurality of different angles. It is to be appreciated that the devicecould be arranged to provide for the dispensing angle to be any desiredangle within a range as, for example, by having the catch arms merelyfrictionally engage the sides of the retaining bridge.

In the preferred embodiments, the socket members 225 and 226 are shownas being fixed to the carriage member 220 against movement. This ispreferred, however, it is to be appreciated that a carriage member couldbe further modified so as to provide an arrangement for changing theangle at which the socket members 225 and 226 converge towards eachother, preferably, with the movement of the sockets being constrained toremain symmetrical relative to the pivot axis although this is notnecessary.

Reservoir Assembly

As best seen in FIG. 5, the reservoir assembly 12 comprises a reservoirbottle 22, a pump assembly 25 and a key collar 26. The bottle 22 has athreaded neck 27 about an outlet 28. A locking tab 29 extends forwardlyand axially relative to the threaded neck 27 and is of generallyrectangular shape in horizontal, axial cross-section having flatparallel side faces and an end face normal thereto. The pump assembly 25includes a piston chamber forming member 30 having an outer flange 31which is internally threaded such that the outer flange 31 may bethreadably engaged onto the threaded neck 27. The pump assembly 25further includes a piston 32 and a valve member 33. The piston 32 isreciprocally movable coaxially within a cylindrical chamber formedwithin the piston chamber forming member 30 so as to dispense fluid frominside the bottle 22 out of the outlet 28 internally through the piston32 and out a discharge opening 34 of the outer end of the piston 32.

The bottle 22 and pump assembly 25 is shown assembled in FIG. 6. To theassembly as shown in FIG. 6, the key collar 26 is applied by sliding thecollar 26 axially upwardly such that the collar 26 comes to be engagedin a snap-fit upon the outer flange 31 against removal from the outerflange 31 and with the locking tab 29 engaging in a slotway 46 on thecollar 26 so as to prevent rotation of the collar 26 relative to thebottle 22. As seen in FIG. 7, the collar 26 has an axial upper end 35and an axial lower end 36 with a central, generally cylindrical opening37 extending therethrough. A generally cylindrical side wall 38 aboutthe opening 37 carries approximate the lower end 36 three radiallyinwardly extending lower shoulder members 39 presenting stop shoulders80 directed axially toward the upper end 35. Approximate the upper end35, the side wall 38 includes three radially inwardly directed uppershoulder members 40. The upper shoulder members 40 have a catch surface81 directed towards the lower end 36 and a bevelled camming surface 82directed towards the upper end 35. On sliding of the collar 26 coaxiallyupwardly onto the outer flange 31, the camming surface 82 of the uppershoulder members 40 engage with an outer lower surface 83 of the outerflange 31 biasing the upper shoulder members 40 radially outwardly topermit the outer flange 31 to move relative the collar 26 axially towardthe lower end 36 into the opening 37 of the collar 26. Once an upper end84 of the outer flange 31 becomes located below the upper shouldermember 40, the upper shoulder member 40 returns to its inherent unbiasedposition with the catch surface 81 disposed above the upper end 84 ofthe outer flange 31 radially inwardly therefrom thus locking the outerflange 31 between the stop shoulders 80 of the lower shoulder member 39and the catch surface 81 of the upper shoulder member 40.

The collar 26 carries on its upper end 35 a pair of upwardly extendinglock tabs 45 providing a slotway 46 therebetween. The slotway 46 issized to closely receive the locking tab 29 of the bottle 22therebetween. When coupling the collar 26 onto the assembled bottle 22and pump assembly 25, the slotway 46 is circumferentially aligned withthe locking tab 29 on the bottle 22 such that the reservoir assembly 12when fully assembled as shown in FIG. 2 has the locking tab 29 on thebottle 22 received within the slotway 46 preventing relative rotation ofthe collar 26 and bottle 12. In the reservoir assembly 12 as shown inFIG. 2, the piston chamber forming member 30 and the collar 26 aresecured to the bottle 22 against removal. That is, the key collar 26 andpiston chamber forming member 30 are preferably secured on the bottle 22substantially against removal other than by significant breaking ordeformation of the bottle 22 or key collar 26.

The extent to which removal or attempted removal of the collar 26 and/orpump assembly 25 is possible or is not possible, or may requiredestruction of one or more of the bottle 22, key collar 26 or pistonchamber forming member 30 can be selected as desired. For example, atthe time of assembly, the bottle 22, piston chamber forming member 30and collar 26 can be permanently secured together as with glue or bysonic welding.

In a preferred embodiment, the interior side wall 38 of the collar 26may be knurled with axially extending alternating ribs and slotways onlypartially shown at 170 in FIG. 7 such that a complementarily knurledouter surface of the outer flange 31 having axially extendingalternating ribs and slotways may couple with ribs on the side wall 38preventing relative rotation of the piston chamber forming member 30relative to the collar 26 once the collar is applied.

With the backplate assembly 14, presser member 15 and shroud 16assembled and, for example, secured to a wall, the assembled reservoirassembly 12 may be coupled thereto by the reservoir assembly 12 movingvertically downwardly relative the backplate assembly 14 with the collarmember 26 and pump assembly 25 to pass vertically downwardly through anopening 190 in the plate 18, and the entire reservoir assembly 12 thenbeing urged rearwardly to engage a rear support portion 191 of the plate18 above the collar 26 and below a lower shoulder 192 on the bottleplacing the piston 32 into a position for coupling with or in which itis coupled with the presser member 15. Removal of the reservoir assembly12 is accomplished by reversed movement forwardly then upwardly.

The presser member 15 is coupled to the piston 32 by engagement betweencatch members (not shown) carried by the presser member 15 with anengagement flange 54 on the piston 32. Such catch members and engagementmay be similar to that described in U.S. Pat. 5,373,970 to Ophardt datedDec. 20, 1994, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, which engagement necessarily results on coupling of thereservoir assembly 12 with the backplate assembly 14.

Optical Key System

The activation unit 48 is shown to also includes portions of an optionaloptical key system for determining if the reservoir assembly 12 iscompatible with the activation unit 48, that is, whether the reservoirassembly 12 meets pre-selected criteria to permit use with theactivation unit 48. The circuit board 216 of the activation unit 48includes an electromagnetic radiation key emitter 55 and anelectromagnetic radiation key sensor 56. The lid 21 of the activationunit 48 includes on an upper portion of its front face a pair of hollowshrouds 57 and 58 which are directed forwardly. The key emitter 55 isreceived in the generally cylindrical shroud 57 about a lamp of the keyemitter 55 and the key sensor 56 is received in the generallycylindrical shroud 57 about a lamp of the key emitter. The shrouds 57and 58 substantially prevent any transmission of electromagneticradiation therethrough and effectively serve to directionalize the keyemitter 55 and key sensor 56 so as to restrict emissions or receptionsof either to light passing through the outer end of the shrouds 57 and58. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the collar 26 has two arms 60 and 61which extend rearwardly from the collar 26 toward each of the keyemitter 55 and key sensor 57. The collar 26 provides an electromagneticradiation wave guide from an end face 62 at the end of arm 60 throughthe collar 26 to the face 63 at the end of the arm 61 providing anoutlet to the wave guide. The wave guide is schematically illustrated indashed lines as 64 in FIG. 7 as extending in a generally U-shape withina U-shaped rim 65 of material disposed proximate the upper end 35 of thecollar 26 about its outer periphery.

Referring to FIG. 4, electromagnetic radiation emitted by the keyemitter 55 enters the wave guide 64 via the inlet end face 62 and isconducted via the wave guide 64 through the collar 26 withelectromagnetic radiation to exit the wave guide 64 via the outlet endface 63 with the radiation exiting the wave guide via the outlet endface 63 to be sensed by the key sensor 56. The activation unit 48includes a key control system under which as a prerequisite todispensing, having regard to the electromagnetic radiation emitted bythe key emitter 55, the electromagnetic radiation sensed by the keysensor 56 is to comply with one or more pre-selected parameters. As byway of a non-limiting example, the key emitter 55 may emitelectromagnetic radiation within a selected range of wave lengths and,in the absence of the key sensor 56 sensing electromagnetic radiationwithin the range of emitted radiation, the motor 49 may not be permittedto operate. Thus, in the simplest case, should a non-compliant reservoirassembly 12 which has the bottle 22, pump assembly 25 but not the collar26, be coupled to the backplate assembly 14 and would not have a waveguide, the radiation of a selected wavelength emitted by key emitter 55would not be directed to or sensed by the key sensor 56 and the controlmechanism of the activation unit would not permit dispensing.

In the preferred embodiment, the collar 26 may preferably be formed asby injection molding from a plastic material which permits transmissionof electromagnetic radiation therethrough. As is known to a personskilled in the art, various plastic materials such as polycarbonateplastics can be used which provide a resultant product havingelectromagnetic radiation transmitting properties. Radiation which mayenter the light transmitting collar 26 as by being directed normal tothe inlet end face 62 will, to some extent, be reflected internally byreason of such light impinging at relatively low angles on the externalsurfaces of the collar forming effectively the sides of the wave guide.A portion of the radiation directed into the collar 26 is passed throughthe collar 26 as around the U-shaped external rim 65 with someproportion of the radiation to be directed substantially perpendicularto the exit end face 63 to exit the wave guide and be sensed by the keysensor 56.

The collar 26 may be formed as unitary element all from the sameradiation transmitting properties or may be formed from a number ofdifferent materials. For example, to increase internal reflection,exterior surfaces of the collar 26 especially about the rim 65 could becoated with a reflective material other than on the inlet end face 62and the outlet end face 63. The collar 26 may be formed such that merelya U-shaped portion of the collar, for example, substantiallycorresponding to the U-shaped rim 65 may comprise light transmittingmaterials and the remainder of the collar may be formed of other plasticmaterials.

The collar 26 may be formed to incorporate therein one or morepre-existing optical fibres, for example, disposed to extend internallywithin the U-shaped rim as with an inlet end of an optical fibre to bepresented at the inlet end face 62 and an outlet end of the opticalfibre to be presented at an outlet end face 63.

In accordance with the present invention, the electromagnetic radiationfor the key emitter may be selected having regard to pre-selectedparameters. These parameters may include radiation within one or moreranges of wavelengths, electromagnetic radiation within one or moreranges of intensity, polarized electromagnetic radiation, andelectromagnetic radiation within one or more ranges of duration and atone or more different points in time.

The wave guide which is provided may have electromagnetic radiationtransmitted properties selected from a plurality of properties andincluding the ability to transmit one or more ranges of wavelengths andor the ability to block one or more ranges of wavelengths, the abilityto restrict the intensity of electromagnetic radiation which can betransmitted through the wave guide, preferably, as a function of most ofthe wave guide. The transmission properties may restrict thetransmission of radiation having a first range of wavelengths yet permittransmission of radiation having a range of second wavelengths.

As to the nature of electromagnetic radiation to be used, manyconventionally available sensors and/or emitters are available for usein emitting and sensing electromagnetic radiation in the visible lightspectrum. This is not necessary, however, and electromagnetic radiationoutside the visible spectrum may be used. This could be advantageous as,for example, to mask the nature of any modular components which maycomprise a portion of a wave guide. For example, whether or not anymodular waveguide element may appear to have a visible colour such asblue, red or yellow, insofar as it is adapted for transmission ofnon-visible electromagnetic radiation, then the presence or absence ofcolour in the modular unit could assist in fooling an imitator.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a circuit board 216 isprovided plus simplified carrying of electronics and ease of electricalcoupling of the motor 49, the hand sensing system components includingthe sensor 53 and the emitter 54 and the optional key system includingthe key emitter 55 and the key sensor 57. In accordance with the presentinvention, it is not necessary that a key system be provided and thuswould be appreciated that in this case the dispenser could be providedwithout the key emitter 55 or key sensor 56 or their shrouds and withoutthe collar 26. The embodiment disclosed would function with theelimination of these elements and, for example, with the reservoirassembly to be inserted comprising that merely shown in FIG. 6.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, many modifications and variations will now occur to personsskilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is madeto the following claims.

1. An automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing material onto a handof a user when the hand is suitable positioned under a dispensing outletfor the material to be dispensed, the improvement comprising: thedispensing apparatus having a backplate for mounting to a vertical wall,the dispensing apparatus protruding forwardly from the backplate, thedispensing outlet spaced in a forward direction from the backplate, thedispensing outlet dispensing material vertically downwardly from thedispensing outlet along a dispensing axis which is fixed relative thebackplate, the dispensing apparatus having an emitter to emitelectromagnetic radiation and a sensor to sense electromagneticradiation emitted by the emitter which is reflected off a user handsuitably positioned under the outlet, a carriage member mounted to thedispensing apparatus fixed against movement relative the dispensingapparatus other than for relative pivoting about a pivot axis which ishorizontal and extends normal to the forward direction side to side ofthe dispensing apparatus, the emitter and sensor carried by carriagemember, the emitter being generally directional emitting radiation toemanate outwardly from the emitter generally along a longitudinalemission axis, the sensor being generally directional and sensingradiation which emanates generally along a longitudinal sensing axisterminating in the sensor, the emission axis and the sensing axisgenerally disposed in a common plane which includes the pivot axis, thecarriage member mounted to the dispensing apparatus for pivoting aboutthe pivot axis between a plurality of different positions relative thebackplate, wherein pivoting the carriage member between different ofsaid positions places the common plane at different angular orientationsrelative to the dispensing axis.
 2. A dispensing apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the dispenser has the carriage mounted at an under sideof the dispenser to direct the plane downwardly and forwardly with thecommon plane to intersect with a user's hand when positioned at aselected position.
 3. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2wherein the emission axis and the sensing axis converge to intersect ata convergence point in the plane below the dispenser.
 4. A dispensingapparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the emitter and sensor arespaced from each other in a direction measured parallel to the pivotaxis.
 5. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein theemission axis is at a fixed emitter angle relative to the pivot axis andthe sensing axis is at a fixed sensing angle relative to the pivot axis,the sensing angle is equal to the emitter angle.
 6. A dispensingapparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein pivoting the carriage memberlocates an intersection of the dispensing axis with the common plane atdifferent relative heights below the dispensing outlet.
 7. A dispensingapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the emitter and sensor arespaced from each other in a direction measured parallel to the pivotaxis.
 8. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including anangular positioning mechanism to releasably lock the carriage member ata different angular positions relative the pivot axis.
 9. A dispensingapparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a positioning memberrearwardly coupled to the carriage and manually engageable by a user topivot the carriage member to different angular positions relative thepivot axis.
 10. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein thepositioning member comprises a lever member when coupled to the carriageprojects from the carriage member radially relative the pivot axis formanual engagement under the dispensing apparatus.
 11. A dispensingapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein further comprising: a reservoirassembly including a reservoir containing material to be dispensed, anactivation unit, and a pump mechanism activatable by the activation unitto dispense material from the reservoir out of the outlet opening, acontrol mechanism to permit operation of the dispensing apparatus whenthe sensor senses radiation from the emitter.
 12. In combination, adispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 together with a countertophaving an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of theelectromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter, the dispensingapparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above thecountertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardlydirected surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's handto be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardlydirected countertop surface.
 13. In combination, a dispensing apparatusas claimed in claim 2 together with a countertop having an upwardlydirected countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiationemitted by the emitter, the dispensing apparatus securely fixedlymounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the commonaxis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of thecountertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned underthe dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertopsurface.
 14. In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim3 together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertopsurface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by theemitter, the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative thecountertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced verticallyabove the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently topermit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet andabove the upwardly directed countertop surface.
 15. In combination, adispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 together with a countertophaving an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of theelectromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter, the dispensingapparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above thecountertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardlydirected surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's handto be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardlydirected countertop surface.
 16. In combination, a dispensing apparatusas claimed in claim 5 together with a countertop having an upwardlydirected countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiationemitted by the emitter, the dispensing apparatus securely fixedlymounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the commonaxis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of thecountertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned underthe dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertopsurface.
 17. In combination, a dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim6 together with a countertop having an upwardly directed countertopsurface reflective of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by theemitter, the dispensing apparatus securely fixedly mounted relative thecountertop above the countertop with the common axis spaced verticallyabove the upwardly directed surface of the countertop sufficiently topermit a user's hand to be positioned under the dispensing outlet andabove the upwardly directed countertop surface.
 18. In combination, adispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 together with a countertophaving an upwardly directed countertop surface reflective of theelectromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter, the dispensingapparatus securely fixedly mounted relative the countertop above thecountertop with the common axis spaced vertically above the upwardlydirected surface of the countertop sufficiently to permit a user's handto be positioned under the dispensing outlet and above the upwardlydirected countertop surface.
 19. In combination, a dispensing apparatusas claimed in claim 8 together with a countertop having an upwardlydirected countertop surface reflective of the electromagnetic radiationemitted by the emitter, the dispensing apparatus securely fixedlymounted relative the countertop above the countertop with the commonaxis spaced vertically above the upwardly directed surface of thecountertop sufficiently to permit a user's hand to be positioned underthe dispensing outlet and above the upwardly directed countertopsurface.
 20. A method of operating a dispenser in combination as claimedin claim 12 comprising: pivoting the carriage member about the pivotaxis to one of the plurality of different positions relative thebackplate selected such that electromagnetic radiation emitted by theemitter reflects off the upwardly directed surface of the countertop isnot directed to the sensor.